15 SEPTEMBER 2022, SIBU – Health screening in Sarawak conducted under the Skim Peduli Kesihatan untuk Kumpulan B40 (PeKa B40) has increased more than double in the first seven months of the year.
All of this was contributed by 16,325 health screenings conducted from 1 January 2022 until 31 July 2022 in Sarawak, against 7,274 screenings conducted during the same corresponding period last year.
ProtectHealth Corporation Sdn. Bhd. (ProtectHealth) remains focused on its aggressive steps to screen over 22,300 beneficiaries in Sarawak for 2022, under Peka B40, in view of the positive performance it has recorded during the first two quarters this year.
ProtectHealth Chief Executive Officer, Dato’ Dr. Anas Alam Faizli expressed confidence in meeting the increased target with the numbers of beneficiaries screened in Sarawak after two years of decrease in the take up rate due to COVID-19.
“Despite the challenge in educating the intended group on healthcare, we believe that the target is achievable and would contribute to the national target for 2022, which is to screen at least 200,000 beneficiaries under this scheme.
“This year’s national target is double the total numbers that PeKa B40 achieved in 2021 with 101,673 screenings,” he said, adding that in Sarawak, since PeKa B40 was implemented from 15 April 2019 to 31 August 2022, a total of 96,427 individuals have been screened.
Dato’ Dr. Anas said during a visit to Yek’s Clinic and Klinik Kesihatan (KK) Jalan Lanang. Yek’s Clinic is the Private Clinic that recorded the highest PeKa B40 health screening in Sibu while KK Lanang recorded the highest screening for KK.
Meanwhile, in Sibu, a total of 11,757 screenings have been conducted while there are 44,350 who are eligible but have not done the screenings yet.
However, Sibu has recorded 41% of increase in total screenings from 1 January to 31 July 2022 (2,438) as compared to the same period last year (1,726).
ProtectHealth is committed to fulfil its purpose in providing free health screening to the members of the public who are in the bottom 40% income (B40) group, aged 40 years and above, through this health scheme and encourages those eligible in Sarawak to come
forward to undergo the free health screening. Other health benefits include Health Aid (HA), Completing Cancer Treatment Incentive (CCTI) and Transport Incentive (TI).
With the set target and in continuing the recovery momentum, ProtectHealth intensifies its efforts through various programmes that have been planned throughout the year, including a series of health initiative roadshows called ‘Agenda Nasional Malaysia Sihat (ANMS)’ which was also launched at state level, nationwide.
PeKa B40 was designed to focus on early detection and prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, cancers, and heart diseases or known as NCD amongst the B40. Therefore, the beneficiaries would be more aware of their overall health status.
“The low-income population in Malaysia is facing various health challenges, particularly related to NCD and poor mental health, nutritional and physical function and this is basically because of financial constraints. This is the reason why they need to make use of this scheme.
“Hence, we have been embarking on a series of engagements and outreaches throughout the country, to spread the awareness of PeKa B40 and ensuring the programme is more accessible to the Rakyat, and one is left behind when it comes to healthcare. Early screening saves lives and costs as we prevent complication, early treatment and increase quality lifespan,” stated Dato’ Dr. Anas.
Members of the public may check their eligibility, by keying their IC number on our website at https://kelayakan.pekab40.com.my/semakan-kelayakan.
PeKa B40 scheme in Sarawak is supported by 117 general practitioners, 150 government clinics (Klinik Kesihatan), 23 government hospitals and 14 pathology labs.
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PROTECTHEALTH CORPORATION SDN. BHD.